4) Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Savio Vega in a Caribbean Strap Match (WWE In Your House: Beware of Dog)
The iconic Austin 3:16 promo at King of the Ring 1996 is often regarded as the catalyst for Stone Cold Steve Austin's meteoric rise in the WWE. However, many fans and pundits argue that his actual star-making performance came a month earlier. At In Your House: Beware Of Dog, Stone Cold faced Savio Vega in a Caribbean Strap Match.
The two superstars had an intense war that was hard-hitting and grueling for both. This had the fans fully invested and on the edge of their seats to see who could reach all four corners in time.
Austin proved himself to be one of the most capable in-ring workers and stole the show. Despite taking the loss, Stone Cold used this success to get his biggest win the following month.
3) Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (WWE King of the Ring 1997)
When fans think about Austin vs. Michaels, they will automatically think of WrestleMania 14. It was one of the most important matches in WWE history. Stone Cold won his first WWE Championship by defeating HBK and took the company's wheel in the Attitude Era. However, this was just their second pay-per-view showdown.
In 1997, unlikely tag team partners Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels defeated Owen Hart and The British Bulldog for the WWE Tag Team Championships. Their animosity only grew, leading to a match at King of the Ring in 1997.
This bout didn't have the injured back Michaels would suffer before WrestleMania 14. After a few months off, HBK was refreshed here and put on an energetic brawl with Austin.
Stone Cold was hampered by the neck injury he sustained at SummerSlam a few months later and kept up with the quicker Michaels. Despite a no contest, this was a show-stealer